UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT SAN ANTONIO ,THE
Grant: $88,432 - National Institutes of Health - Jun. 2, 2009
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Award Description: The overall objective of the present proposal is to develop, evaluate, distribute, and apply tools for quantitative meta-analysis of the human functional brain mapping (HFBM) literature. The BrainMap database may be used as an internet-based resource for retrieval, coding, and filtering papers that is required for an HFBM meta-analysis. BrainMap has been fully implemented in a multi-platform software environment (Java) and populated with >750 papers and > 3,000 experiments (>20% of the literature meeting our inclusion criteria). It is now proposed: to extend the functionality of coordinate-based, voxel- wise meta-analysis (CVM) (Aim 1); to extend network analysis of CVM datasets (Aim 2); to create optimal high-resolution brain templates for spatial normalization that are representative of large groups of subjects (Aim 3); and to develop methods for returning functional labels and metrics of label likelihood for any given anatomical coordinate and serve these labels through a function-label extension of the Talairach Daemon (Aim 4). In addition, we propose a structured data-sharing plan that will provide a formal means for sharing software tools, meta-analyses, a functional ontology, and coordinate data of the published HFBM literature. Addressing these aims will greatly advance the current status of meta-analysis in functional neuroimaging. The evaluations associated with each development will provide guidance for further development of tools and logistics.
Project Description: This Recovery Act Administrative Supplement awarded funds for summer research experiences (SREs) for 2 secondary-school science teachers, 2 undergraduate students, and two high-school students. During the course of this program, these students and science educators will: 1) receive an introductory course in human neuroscience; 2) be instructed in the research methods utilized in the field of human brain mapping (HBM); 3) learn to submit data to and retrieve data from the BrainMap database; 4) become familiar with the corpus of meta-analyses already performed in this field and their major findings; 5) learn state-of-the-art methods for quantitative, coordinate-based meta-analysis of human functional neuroimaging data; 6) perform a meta-analysis of a subset of the HBM literature on a topic of their choice; 7) present their meta-analysis to the group. The science educators in the program will be shown how to use these tools to develop teaching materials. Drawing on the strengths and experiences of prior programming, this supplement will heighten neuroscience career awareness among high school and undergraduate students and teachers; contribute new curricular elements for secondary science; and expand the literature included in the BrainMap database. For undergraduate- and high-school students, the primary goal of this program is to encourage them to pursue careers in science. A secondary goal is to increase the pace at which data are entered into the BrainMap database. For science educators, the primary goal of this program is to advance their understanding of human neuroscience and thereby enhance the educational experiences of their students. Coordinate-based meta-analysis of neuroimaging data is particularly well-suited to this end, as it provides teachers (and students) with tools to understand and synthesize the scientific literature as it emerges, rather than waiting for textbook development.
Jobs Summary: none (Total jobs reported: 0)
Project Status: More than 50% Completed
This award's data was last updated on Jun. 2, 2009. Help expand these official descriptions using the wiki below.
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